Hi, I’m Melissa. I trained with The Calm Birth School some time ago and (after having another baby and relocating our family to the beautiful Cotswold Town of Tetbury) i’m delighted to get my business up and running!
I’m mum to Claude (three) and Alba (18 months). I was first taught hypnobirthing by the wonderful Liz Stanford when I was pregnant with Claude, after suffering the devastating loss of our first baby boy at 19 weeks. At the time I knew that I needed some support to help change the negative associations I had with birth and how I felt about my body’s ability to birth a healthy baby, safely. By the end of the course, I felt calm, confident and was genuinely looking forward to Claude’s birth. The difference was incredible, and it felt amazing. It was part of the healing process for me.
Through my hypnobirthing classes I teach birthing persons and their partners how to feel empowered, calm and confident during pregnancy and birth. My own experiences mean that I understand pregnancy and birth is not always straightforward nor is it always the journey you had perhaps imagined. There is no judgment in my teaching. Hospital birth, home birth and everything in between is very much supported and crucially, your choice. I am here to ensure you know what those choices are and importantly, to support you emotionally with your preparation for birth so that you can achieve a positive experience.
I believe very strongly in the mind body connection, the power of listening to your body and trusting your instincts. I also believe in the importance of creating space to connect with your baby, to openly address any worries or anxieties you have and to prepare you and your baby emotionally as well as physically for the journey ahead. Alongside my hypnobirthing courses I also run pregnancy and postnatal circles. Here, I hold a safe space so that you have dedicated time to be present, relax your mind and feel supported. I teach across Tetbury, Cirencester, Malmesbury, Stroud and surrounding areas.